Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species of North Carolina 2006 Edited by Misty A. Franklin, Botanist John T. Finnegan, Information Systems Manager North Carolina Natural Heritage Program Office of Conservation and Community Affairs N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources 1601 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
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Natural Heritage Program
List of Rare Plant Species of North Carolina
2006
Edited by Misty A. Franklin, Botanist
John T. Finnegan, Information Systems Manager
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program
Office of Conservation and Community Affairs
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
1601 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM LIST OF THE RARE PLANTS OF NORTH CAROLINA2006 Edition
edited by Misty A. Franklin, Botanist and John Finnegan, Information Systems ManagerNorth Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Office of Conservation and Community Affairs Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 1601 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
www.ncnhp.org
THE COUNTIES AND PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCES OF NORTH CAROLINA . . . . . . . . 1
Cover Photo: Lilium pyrophilum (Sandhills Lily), by Scott Hartley, Weymouth Woods SandhillsNature Preserve
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This list was originally compiled and published by Alan Weakley in 1991, and it has been revised andupdated over the years by Alan Weakley, Jame Amoroso, and Misty Franklin. Special thanks are given toRichard LeBlond, Harry LeGrand, Suzanne Mason, Shawn Oakley, James Padgett, Michael Schafale, BruceSorrie, Alan Weakley, and Brenda Wichmann for their involvement in the development of the list and to PaulDavison and Blanka Shaw for assistance with the bryophyte lists, and Gary Perlmutter for assistance withthe lichen list.
The list of people who have assisted in the preparation of the vascular plant list, provided information to NCNHP on rare species occurrences, or otherwise contributed to our understanding of the rare flora of the stateare too many to mention, but a partial list of recent contributors includes: Larry Barden, Moni Bates, GaryBlank, Beth Bockoven, Alvin Braswell, Ken Bridle, Dan Brunton, A.J. Bullard, Anne Burroughs, KevinCaldwell, Clint Calhoun, David Campbell, Jay Carter, Roy Coomins, David Danley, Sudie Daves, PeteDiamond, Jamey Donaldson, Dave Dumond, Lee Echols, Rob Evans, Susan Farmer, Elisabeth Feil, JohnFinnegan, Laura Fogo, Mary Frazer, John Fussell, Chick Gaddy, Lisa Gaffney, Eric Galamb, FrankGalloway, Tom Govus, Janet Gray, Steve Hall, Scott Hartley, Dennis Herman, Marie Hicks, CharlotteJones-Roe, Dean Kanipe, Josh Kelly, Lisa Kelly, Bob Kral, Jay Kranyik, Alexander Krings, Kerry Heafner,Karin Heiman, Tom Howard, Claudia Jolls, Gary Kauffman, Ron Lance, Keith Langdon, Karen Lynch,Merrill Lynch, Laura Mansberg, Jim Matthews, Carol Ann McCormick, Catherine McRae, PatrickMcMillan, Julie Moore, William S. Moye, Judy Murray, Zack Murrell, Carl Nordman, Tom Patrick, LindaPearsall, Bob Peet, Dan Pittillo, Bert Pittman, Liz Pullman, Milo Pyne, Johnny Randall, Doug Rayner, BetsyReardon, Jerry Reese, Nick Roark, Janet Rock, Josh Rose, Mary Russo, Tim Savidge, Jon Shaw, SusanShelingoski, Ed Schwartzman, Dale Shew, Steve Simon, Alan Smith, Jon Stucky, Dale Suiter, John Taggart,Scott Taylor, Will iam Taylor, Craig Ten Brink, Chris Ulrey, Gustavo Vazquez, Andy Walker, Bobby Ward,Allison Weakley, Rachel Wellman, Carolyn Wells, Tom Wentworth, Peter White, Brent Wilson, DonnaWright, Alice Zawadzki and part icipants in the N.C. Vegetation Survey.
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NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM LIST OF THE RARE PLANTS OF NORTH CAROLINAIntroduction for 2006 list by Alan Weakley, Curator, UNC Herbarium
Rare plants and rare plant lists in North CarolinaSince the 1970s, lists of taxa "of conservation concern" have become a mainstay of the effort to conservebiodiversity on local to worldwide levels. These lists, often termed "red lists," "rare lists," or "endangeredand threatened species lists" have varying legal implications and are used in a variety of ways, includingformal "listing" of species (giving them various legal protections), priority-setting for conservation inventoryand study, and as the basis for conservation planning or "portfolio development." In the United States thedevelopment of approaches to conservation planning was begun in earnest in the early 1970s by scientistsat The Nature Conservancy, notably Dr. Robert Jenkins, who felt that the Conservancy needed to move froman "ad hoc" and "expert testimony" model of decision making to a model based on more objective data onthe whereabouts of viable occurrences of imperiled conservation elements (rare plants, rare animals, andhighest quality natural communities or ecosystems). The approach initially consisted of gathering consistentinformation on the locations of rare plants and animals (conservation elements) across broad geographicregions, to provide a basis for more objective decision-making about where to spend financial and otherresources. This led to the foundation of the Natural Heritage Network, and the development of a series ofsoftware platforms and non-software methodologies for storing and analyzing information.
The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program was one of the earlier programs to be established and to startto apply these methodologies. As a result, the North Carolina Rare Plant List now has a three decade history.Starting with the results of a 1975 symposium which created the first rare plant list for North Carolina, theNorth Carolina Natural Heritage Program began operations in 1976, gathering herbarium records and thenfield data on the status of North Carolina's rare flora. Over the years since, Heritage Program botanists havereviewed and modified the existing lists, based on newly available information and in consultation withbotanists from the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, academicexperts, and others. Among state rare plant lists, the North Carolina Rare Plant List has one of longesthistories and is one of the most thoroughly researched.
Changes in the list from 1976 to 2004In total, 780 taxa have been tracked at one time or another. Of these, 414 were tracked in 1976, 296 in 1983,467 in 1990, 480 in 1997, and 622 in 2004. While a core set of 237 taxa (30 percent of the total numbertracked on at least one list) is present on all five lists through the span of 27 years (30 percent), an even largerpercentage (70 percent) of taxa have not been consistently tracked. Among the most imperiled taxa on thelist are those with official federal or state status as Endangered or Threatened. One might anticipate thatthese subsets would be more stable parts of the List than the remainder, as these are the most imperiled,highest profile taxa in the state. However, of the 27 plants in North Carolina currently federally listed asEndangered or Threatened, seven were not even tracked in 1976 (Aeschynomene virginica, Amaranthuspumilus, Carex lutea, Gymnoderma lineare, Houstonia montana, Oxypolis canbyi, Sarracenia oreophila,Sisyrinchium dichotomum). This is because they were considered taxonomically indistinct at the time(Houstonia montana, Sisyrinchium dichotomum), their rangewide imperilment was not appreciated(Aeschynomene virginica, Amaranthus pumilus), they had not been discovered to be in North Carolina(Oxypolis canbyi, Sarracenia oreophila), they had not yet been discovered and described (Carex lutea), orthey were taxonomically part of a group (lichens, mosses, liverworts, hornworts) which had not beenassessed (Gymnoderma lineare). Looking at federal status more broadly, there are currently 124 taxa withfederal status of Endangered, Threatened, Federal Special Concern, or Candidate. Sixty-one of these (49percent) were not even tracked in 1976 - nearly half of the taxa now considered to be of highest rangewideconservation concern. Turning to state listing, 134 taxa were listed as North Carolina Endangered orThreatened as of January 2006; of these, 31 (23 percent) were not tracked at all in 1976. [In May 2006additional species were added to the PCP list and at the time of publication, 164 taxa were listed as NCEndangered or Threatened -ed.]
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What are the main drivers of these changes in the Rare Plant List?Taxonomic changes. Taxa are added to and deleted from the list based on current understanding oftaxonomy. A small number of taxa have been deleted from the list because they were determined not towarrant taxonomic recognition (5 taxa), and therefore also not to warrant conservation tracking and action.An additional 6 taxa have been deleted because the name was misapplied and the taxon was not actuallypresent in the state by current circumscription, and 5 have been taxa deleted because the specimens uponwhich their occurrence in North Carolina was based have been shown to be misidentified. A considerablylarger number of taxa (44) have been added to the Rare Plant List because they are newly recognized as validtaxa, having "come out of synonymy (44 taxa) or newly described, named, and determined to be rare enoughto be of conservation concern (36 taxa).
Change in knowledge about nativity. Perhaps surprisingly, 13 tracked taxa have been determined not tobe native components of North Carolina's flora. While some of these are native in nearby states and theirnativity status in North Carolina was understandably unclear (Angelica atropurpurea, Hypericumfrondosum), others (Callicarpa dichotoma, Carex divisa, Carex arenaria) are Eurasian taxa. Conioselinumchinense, a native species in North Carolina and one of the rarest species in the state (now listed as NorthCarolina Endangered), was excluded from earlier lists, presumably because Linnaeus's misnomer epithet ledbotanists to assume that it was not native.
New information on conservation status resulting from inventory. The existence of the Rare Plant Listand the uses to which it is put generates inventory attention and effort. Once placed on the list, speciesreceive a considerable amount of focus and effort by biologists conducting conservation assessments, rarespecies inventory, county natural area inventory, environmental impact assessments, and (on federal lands)National Environmental Policy Act assessments. A large number of taxa (103) on the list at some point inthe past have been removed because additional information gathered indicates that they are "secure" at thepresent time. An even larger number (152 taxa) has been added to the list because inventory and herbariumassessments suggest that they warrant conservation attention.
Native taxa newly discovered to be rare components of North Carolina's flora. Continued botanicalexploration and conservation inventory of North Carolina over the last 27 years has revealed a considerablenumber of additional taxa (112) to be native and rare components of the state's flora. Once discovered in thestate, these are added to the list.
Actual changes in conservation status. Very few taxa can definitely be shown to have been added to ordeleted from the List because of an actual change in biodiversity status. One of the few is Abies fraseri, anarrow endemic to the high mountains of the Southern Blue Ridge, which is newly imperiled by theintroduction in the early 1960s and spread of a pathogen, the balsam woolly adelgid. Another ambiguouscase, Tofieldia glabra (a narrow endemic of wet pine savannas and sandhill seeps in the Coastal Plain of theCarolinas), was removed from the list in part because many of its populations are in secure natural areas.
The addition of mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens to the List. Early lists ignored nonvasculargroups, but these groups of course have their own share of taxa imperiled in North Carolina, and with asomewhat different geographic pattern across the state, with rare taxa more concentrated in humid, relictual,western North Carolina than in other parts of the state.
Overall, the level of change in the List and the reasons for that change show a dynamic Rare Plant List whichcreates its own feedback loop for continual improvement. Adding taxa to the List generates the attention thatdetermines the real need (or not) for the taxa to be on the List. Corrections are made over time to reflect newknowledge about taxonomy, nativity, and conservation status. The importance of conservation inventory andongoing taxonomic reassessment is clear.
Do changes in the Rare Plant List make a difference in setting the land conservation agenda?It would seem likely that changes in the Rare Plant List and associated occurrence records would make a
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difference in the set of lands needed to conserve the state's plant biodiversity. However, imperiled plantsare strongly clustered in specialized habitats and remnant natural areas, such that where one occurs, thereare likely to be others. This strongly clustered pattern of distribution of rare plants might mean that anyreasonable set of rare plants would tend to lead one to the same biodiversity hot spots, and that changes inthe List would have little effect of a "conservation portfolio" for the state.
Comparing the 1976 Rare Plant List and occurrences of those taxa known in 1976 to the 2004 Rare Plant Listand occurrences of those taxa known in 2004 reveals that changes in the List do have a very significant effecton the "portfolio" of lands needed to conserve North Carolina's botanical richness. An analysis to reveal the50 most important sites for plant conservation based on 1976 and 2004 information yielded little overlap,with only 8 sites on both lists (Bluff Mountain, Long Hope Valley, Buck Creek Serpentine Barren, RoanMountain, Hot Springs Limestone, Whitewater Falls, Cedar Cliff Mountain, and Bluff Mountain Cowface).This is an amazingly low number, but it corroborates the general poor correlation of conservation portfoliosdeveloped based on the 1976 data (1976 list lacking nonvascular plants, largely herbarium record populationoccurrences, no viability data) and those developed based on the 2005 data (2005 list with nonvascular plantsand other substantial additions and deletions, population occurrences resulting from directed conservationinventory, viability data).
A site by site analysis of the reasons for the non-overlap is informative. Sites in the 2005 Top 50 and lackingin the 1976 are largely a result of new inventory information: nearly half (23 out of 50) were not known inany way in 1976, and represent new discoveries made since that time, mainly by Natural Heritage Programstaff. Among the top 20 sites in 2005, these include The Neck Savanna, Butner Glade, Fort Bragg (CalfBranch), Old Dock/Schulkens Savannas, Butner (Knap of Reeds Creek), Camp Lejeune (Lyman Road),Sandhills Game Land (Beaverdam Creek), Waccamaw River Savanna, and Skunk Cabbage Bogs. Manyother sites (an additional 21) were at least slightly known of in 1976, but had been poorly and inadequatelyinventoried, and new inventory discoveries (and changes in the Rare List) added to their significance. Sevensites reached the Top 50 at least in part because of important nonvascular plant contributions to their richness(see Appendix 7). Undoubtedly, list changes have contributed to the Top 50 status of many of these sites.Of the 42 sites on the Top 50 list for 1976 that are not in the top 50 now, several sites have been destroyedor degraded (East Flat Rock Bog, Dunn Mountain, Hester Diabase). Other sites (14 of 50) have "historic"population occurrences, and are deemed to be unlikely to still support many (or all) of the rare taxa that onceearned them a place in the top 50. Two sites were in the top 50 in 1976 based on populations of taxa whichhave since been delisted. Half of the sites are still of conservation significance (and most are likely to befound in the complete conservation portfolio), but their relative priority has declined because of the discoveryof additional sites, or of other new information.
Changes in our understanding of the flora of North Carolina have resulted in very substantial changes in thelist of taxa considered to warrant conservation surveillance and action in North Carolina. These changesmight be considered to be likely to alter the "conservation portfolio" (the set of lands needed to conserveNorth Carolina's flora), and indeed significant changes in conservation portfolios can be traced strictly to theaddition and deletion of hundreds of taxa based on the improved information gathered during conservationinventory. Other factors have also had great impacts on the ability of conservation planners and practitionersto effectively set conservation priorities in North Carolina. The discovery and inventory of new sites, as wellas the more careful and conservation-oriented inventory of known sites, has resulted in profound changesin North Carolina's conservation portfolio. The development of the ability to set priorities for taxa based onrangewide status, and of populations of taxa based on predicted viability, also has large impacts on theresulting conservation portfolios. These changes can be considered a vindication of the directed conservationinventory and database approach used by NatureServe and the Natural Heritage Network Heritage. The poorcorrelation of the pre-Heritage 1976 portfolio with the 2005 portfolio is perhaps a sobering lesson on ourability to target conservation effectively in areas where inventory effort will remain sporadic. The inclusionof detailed species data (as reflected in this analysis) with other data layers provides the best opportunity to
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target conservation activity most efficiently and effectively. Many of the "hotspots" in the 2005 portfoliohave been discovered and protected since 1976 through the activity of the North Carolina Natural HeritageProgram, the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, The Nature Conservancy, and federal and stateland management agencies.
NC Natural Heritage Program Rare Plant List
BACKGROUND INFORMATION. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NC NHP), as part ofits mission to preserve the biological diversity of North Carolina, maintains an inventory of all knownlocations of rare taxa. NC NHP takes the lead role in North Carolina in the inventory of the state's naturaldiversity, the identification of important natural areas and rare species habitats, and the protection andmanagement of natural areas. It serves as the state's data bank of locality information of natural areas andrare and endangered plant and animal species. It conducts environmental reviews of projects involving stateor federal permits or monies, to minimize negative impacts on North Carolina's natural areas and rare species.
This list incorporates the most recent federal status of rare plants, as determined by the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service (USFWS) with amendments current to May 1, 2006. Federally listed species are protectedby the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The USFWS is the federal agency responsible forlisting and protecting nationally endangered and threatened species.
This list also includes North Carolina legal status information from the most recent version of the NC PlantConservation Program (NC PCP) List of North Carolina's Endangered, Threatened and Candidate PlantSpecies, which can be found on the website: www.ncplant.com. This website includes discussion of andinformation on the legal status of Endangered (E), Threatened (T), and Special Concern (SC) species. NCPCP, a unit of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is the agency responsible for the listingand protection of North Carolina's endangered and threatened plants, under provisions of the North CarolinaPlant Protection and Conservation Act of 1979 (General Statutes, Article 19B, 106: 202.12-22), as amended.NC PCP acts under the direction of a Plant Conservation Board and with the advice of a ScientificCommittee to maintain and revise the state lists of protected (Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern)plant species, to investigate protection needs and survival requirements of native plants, to carry outconservation programs, to make and enforce regulations, and to issue permits concerning protected plants.In general, removal of Endangered or Threatened plants from the wild and their sale or distribution is illegal.Particular regulations concerning col lection, propagation, and sale apply to those species (Endangered,Threatened, or otherwise) listed as Special Concern.
All plant taxa native to North Carolina which are officially recognized by federal or state agencies asprotected or otherwise rare are included on this list. NC NHP, NC PCP, and USFWS work cooperativelyto ensure the continued survival of all of North Carolina's rich flora.
Many species which lack formal, legal protection are nonetheless imperiled in North Carolina. Therefore,NC NHP collects data on species in addition to the three categories of protected plants (Endangered,Threatened, and Special Concern). These additional rare species are placed in two other categories of rareplants: Significantly Rare (SR) and Watch List (W). Definitions of all status categories are listed below,under "North Carolina Status." NC NHP requests locality and population data on the species listed in thispublication. Plant survey forms have been provided in the back of this publication for this purpose.
1 includes species, as well as valid unique varieties and subspecies
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NUMBER OF PLANT TAXA WITH THE INDICATED STATUS1
(as of May 2006)
GROUPAPPROXIMATE
NUMBER IN NORTH CAROLINA
N.C. STATUS U.S. STATUS
E T SC SR E T C FSC
Flowering Plants 4232 109 46 19 552 17 9 5 97
Mosses 440 4 1 - 118 - - 3
Liverworts 225 2 - - 61 - - 9
Hornworts 9 - - - 2 - - - 1
Lichens 651 1 1 - 24 1 - - 2
Total 5701 116 48 19 757 18 9 5 112
LIST FORMAT. Species are placed into five groups: Vascular Plants, Mosses, Liverworts, Hornworts,and Lichens. They are listed alphabetically by scientific name within each group. The following informationis presented for each species on the list.
Scientific Name. Taxonomy and nomenclature of vascular plants (dicots, monocots, gymnosperms, ferns,and fern allies) generally follow A.S. Weakley's Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and SurroundingStates (working draft of 6 January 2006) and J.T. Kartesz’s A Synonymized Checklist and Atlas withBiological Attributes for the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First Edition.(In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North CarolinaBotanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC. Copyright c 1999). Scientific authorities for names have been omittedto save space, but follow Weakley et al. (2006 draft) and Kartesz (1999). Taxonomy and nomenclature ofnonvascular plants (mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens) generally follow Bryophyte Flora of NorthAmerica, provisional publication, Missouri Botanical Garden. 2006. Available at:http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/BFNA/bfnamenu.htm (accessed January 3, 2006), L.E. Anderson, H.A.Crum, and W.R. Buck's List of the Mosses of North America North of Mexico (Bryologist 93: 448-499[1990]), L.E. Anderson's A Checklist of Sphagnum in North America North of Mexico (Bryologist 93:500-501 [1990]), R. Schuster's The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America east of the HundredthMeridian (1966, 1969, 1974, 1980, and 1992), M.L. Hicks's Liverworts of the Mountains of North Carolina(1982), M.L. Hicks's Guide to the Liverworts of North Carolina (1992), M.L. Hicks and P.G. Davison's SomeRare, Endemic, and Disjunct Liverworts in North Carolina (Castanea 54: 255-261 [1989]), Esslinger, T.L.1997, A cumulative checklist for the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental UnitedS t a t e s a n d C a n a d a . N o r t h D a k o t a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y :http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/esslinge/chcklst/chcklst7.html (most recent update 14 June 2005), Fargo,North Dakota. and Brodo, Sharnoff and Sharnoff Lichens of North America (2001).
Common Name. A common name is provided for the convenience of the user. Common names for plantsare not standardized, and many plants have no satisfactory common name.
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North Carolina Rank. Natural Heritage Programs, Conservation Data Centers (CDC's), and NatureServehave developed a consistent method for evaluating the relative imperilment of both species and ecologicalcommunities. These assessments lead to the designation of a conservation status rank. For plant and animalspecies these ranks provide an estimate of extinction risk. Conservation rank values have been assigned overthe past thirty years by the NC Natural Heritage Program, NatureServe, and a large number of collaboratorsin government agencies, universities, natural history museums and botanical gardens, and other conservationorganizations. The information has been developed primarily to help in guiding conservation and informingenvironmental planning and management. Conservation status ranks are based on a one to five scale, rangingfrom critically imperiled (S1) to demonstrably secure (S5). These status assessments are based on the bestavailable information, considering a variety of factors such as abundance, distribution, population trends,and threats.
RANK NUMBER OFEXTANT
POPULATIONS
NORTH CAROLINA RANK DEFINITION
S1 1-5 Critically imperiled - Critically imperiled in North Carolina due toextreme rarity or some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable toextirpation (local extinction) from the state. Typically 5 or feweroccurrences or very few remaining individuals (<1,000).
S2 6-20 Imperiled - Imperiled in North Carolina due to rarity or somefactor(s) making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the state.Typically 6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals (1,000to 3,000).
S3 21-100 Vulnerable - Vulnerable to extinction in North Carolina eitherbecause rare or uncommon, or found only in a restricted range (evenif abundant at some locations), or due to other factors making itvulnerable to extirpation. Typically 21 to 100 occurrences orbetween 3,000 and 10,000 individuals.
S4 101-1000 Apparently secure - Apparently secure and widespread in NorthCarolina, usually with more than 100 occurrences and more than10,000 individuals.
S5 1001+ Secure - Common, widespread, and abundant in North Carolina.Essentially ineradicable under present conditions. Typically withconsiderably more than 100 occurrences and more than 10,000individuals.
SH 0? Historical - Of historical occurrence in North Carolina, with someexpectation that it may be rediscovered. Its presence may not havebeen verified in the past 20 years. Upon verification of an extantoccurrence, SH-ranked elements would typically receive an S1 rank.Note: an element is not automatically assigned an SH (or SX) rankif it has not been verified in the past 20 years; some effort must havebeen made to locate or relocate occurrences.
SX 0 Presumed extirpated -- Believed to be extirpated in North Carolina.Has not been located despite intensive searches of historical sitesand other appropriate habitat, and virtually no likelihood that it willbe rediscovered.
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SU Unknown Unrankable - Currently unrankable in North Carolina due to lack ofinformation or substantially conflicting information about status ortrends. More information is needed.
SNR Unknown Not Ranked - Rank in NC not yet assessed.
SNA N/A Not Applicable - A conservation status rank is not applicablebecause the element is not a suitable target for conservation for oneof the following reasons: - Hybrid - an interspecific hybrid without conservation value;- Exotic Origin - not native to North Carolina;- Accidental/nonregular - outside usual range and not regularlyfound in North Carolina;- Not confidently present - never documented as present in NorthCarolina;- Synonym - the taxon is not recognized by the NC Natural HeritageProgram.
-? – Uncertain - Denotes inexact or uncertain numeric rank.
A rank involving two numbers indicates a range of uncertainty about the conservation rank in North Carolina.For example, a S2S3 rank indicates that the species may be a S2 or a S3, but existing data do not allow thatdetermination to be made.
Global Rank. Similar to North Carolina ranks, global ranks are assigned by a consensus of scientific experts,Natural Heritage Programs, CDC's, NatureServe, and TNC. They apply to the status of a species throughoutits range. This system is widely used by other agencies and organizations, as the best available scientific andobjective assessment of a species' rarity throughout its range.
RANK NUMBER OFEXTANT
POPULATIONS
GLOBAL RANK DEFINITION
G1 1-5 Critically imperiled - Critically imperiled globally because ofextreme rarity or because of some factor(s) making it especiallyvulnerable to extinction. Typically 5 or fewer occurrences or veryfew remaining individuals (<1,000) or acres (<2,000) or linear miles(<10).
G2 6-20 Imperiled - Imperiled globally because of rarity or because of somefactor(s) making it very vulnerable to extinction. Typically 6 to 20occurrences or few remaining individuals (1,000 to 3,000) or acres(2,000 to 10,000) or linear miles (10 to 50).
G3 21-100 Vulnerable - Vulnerable globally either because very rarethroughout its range, found only in a restricted range (even ifabundant at some locations), or because of other factors making itvulnerable to extinction. Typically 21 to 100 occurrences orbetween 3,000 and 10,000 individuals.
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G4 101-1000 Apparently Secure - Uncommon but not rare (although it may berare in parts of its range, particularly on the periphery) and usuallywidespread. Apparently not vulnerable in most of its range, butpossibly cause for long-term concern. Typically more than 100occurrences and more than 10,000 individuals.
G5 1001+ Secure - Common, widespread, and abundant (although it may berare in parts of its range, particularly on the periphery). Notvulnerable in most of its range. Typically with considerably morethan 100 occurrences and more than 10,000 individuals.
GH 0? Historical - Known from only historical occurrences, but with someexpectation that it may be rediscovered. May still be extant; furthersearching is needed.
GX 0 Presumed Extinct - Believed to be extinct throughout its range (e.g.,passenger pigeon) with virtually no likelihood that it will berediscovered. Not located despite intensive searches of historicalsites and other appropriate habitat.
GU Unknown Unrankable - Currently unrankable due to lack of information or dueto substantially conflicting information about status or trends; needmore information.
GNR Unknown Not Ranked - Global rank not yet assessed.
T_ – The rank of a subspecies or variety. As an example, G4T1 wouldapply to a subspecies of a species with an overall rank of G4, but thesubspecies warranting a rank of G1.
-? – Uncertain - Denotes inexact or uncertain numeric rank.
Q – Questionable taxonomy that may reduce conservation priority.Distinctiveness of this entity as a taxon at the current level isquestionable. Resolution of this uncertainty may result in changefrom a species to a subspecies or inclusion of this taxon in anothertaxon, with the resulting Element having a lower-priorityconservation status rank.
A rank involving two numbers indicates uncertainty of rank. For example, a G2G3 rank indicates that thespecies may be a G2 or a G3, but that existing data do not allow that determination to be made.
North Carolina Status. Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species have legally protected statusin North Carolina through NC PCP. NC NHP maintains computer and map files on Endangered, Threatened,Proposed, Special Concern, and Significantly Rare species; paper files are maintained on Watch List species.
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STATUSCODE
STATUS NORTH CAROLINA STATUS DEFINITION
E Endangered "Any species or higher taxon of plant whose continued existence as aviable component of the State's flora is determined to be in jeopardy" (GS19B 106: 202.12). (Endangered species may not be removed from the wildexcept when a permit is obtained for research, propagation, or rescuewhich will enhance the survival of the species.)
T Threatened "Any resident species of plant which is likely to become an endangeredspecies within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portionof its range" (GS 19B 106:202.12). (Regulations are the same as forEndangered species.)
SC SpecialConcern
"Any species of plant in North Carolina which requires monitoring butwhich may be collected and sold under regulations adopted under theprovisions of [the Plant Protection and Conservation Act]" (GS 19B106:202.12). (Special Concern species which are not also listed asEndangered or Threatened may be collected from the wild and sold underspecific regulations. Propagated material only of Special Concern specieswhich are also listed as Endangered or Threatened may be traded or soldunder specific regulations.)
SR SignificantlyRare
Any species not listed by the NC Plant Conservation Program asEndangered, Threatened, or Candidate, which is rare in North Carolina,generally with 1-100 populations in the state, frequently substantiallyreduced in numbers by habitat destruction (and sometimes also by directexploitation or disease).
-L Limited The range of the species is limited to North Carolina and adjacent states(endemic or near endemic). These are species which may have 20-50populations in North Carolina, but fewer than 100 populations rangewide.The preponderance of their distribution is in North Carolina and their fatedepends largely on conservation here.
-T Throughout The species is rare throughout its range (fewer than 100 populationstotal).
-D Disjunct The species is disjunct to NC from a main range in a different part of thecountry or world.
-P Peripheral The species is at the periphery of its range in NC. These species aregenerally more common somewhere else in their ranges, occurr ing inNorth Carolina peripherally to their main ranges, mostly in habitats whichare unusual in North Carolina.
-O Other The range of the species is sporadic or cannot be described by the otherSignificantly Rare categories
W Watch List Any other species believed to be rare and of conservation concern in thestate but not warranting active monitoring at this time (see the Watch Listsection for a more complete discussion).
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P Proposed A species which has been formally proposed for listing as Endangered,Threatened, or Special Concern, but has not yet completed the legallymandated listing process.
United States Status is designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. NationalMarine Fisheries Service in accordance with the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (U.S.ESA). Plants and plant varieties, (including fungi and lichens), animal species and subspecies, and vertebratepopulations are considered for Endangered or Threatened status according to the criteria established underthe U.S. ESA. Proposals and determinations to add taxa or populations to the Lists of Endangered andThreatened Wildlife and Plants are published in the Federal Register. Additionally, the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service periodically publish a Notice of Review or Noticeof Reclassification in the Federal Register that present an updated list of plant and animal taxa which areregarded as candidates or proposed for possible addition to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlifeand Plants. Consult the Asheville or Raleigh Ecological Services Field Offices for more information.
STATUSCODE
STATUS UNITED STATES STATUS DEFINITION
E Endangered A taxon "in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portionof its range" (Endangered Species Act, Section 3).
T Threatened A taxon "likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeablefuture throughout all or a significant portion of its range (EndangeredSpecies Act, Section 3).
C Candidate "Taxa for which the [Fish and Wildlife] Service has on file enoughsubstantial information on biological vulnerability and threat(s) tosupport proposals to list them as endangered or threatened. Proposedrules have not yet been issued because this action is precluded atpresent by other listing activity. Development and publication ofproposed rules on these taxa are anticipated. The Service encouragesState and other Federal agencies as well as other affected parties to giveconsideration to these taxa in environmental planning.” (FederalRegister, February 28, 1996). Taxa formerly in ‘Category 1' are nowconsidered as ‘Candidate’.
FSC (Federal)Species ofConcern
A species under consideration for listing, for which there is insufficientinformation to support listing at this time. These species may or maynot be listed in the future, and many of these species were formerlyrecognized as "C2" candidate species. “...The Service remainsconcerned about these species but further biological research and fieldstudy are needed to resolve the conservation status of these taxa. Manyspecies of concern will be found not to warrant listing, either becausethey are not threatened or endangered or because they do not qualify asspecies under the definition in the [Endangered Species] Act. Othersmay be found to be in greater danger of extinction than some presentcandidate taxa. The Service is working with the States and otherprivate and public interests to assess their need for protection under theAct. Such species are the pool from which future candidates for listingwill be drawn.” (Federal Register, February 28, 1996).
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Physiographic Province. The provinces in which the species is known to occur are indicated. Thisshould not be regarded as the only province(s) of the state in which the species could occur; as ourknowledge of the flora of North Carolina is still very imperfect. The provinces are abbreviated asfollows:
M Mountains (Blue Ridge) All parts of North Carolina west of the foot of the Blue RidgeEscarpment.
P Piedmont All parts of North Carolina east of the foot of the Blue RidgeEscarpment and west of the Fall Line, including outlying "foothill"ranges, such as the Brushy, Uwharrie, Sauratown, and SouthMountains. This province is shallowly underlain by crystallinemetamorphic, igneous, or (rarely) consolidated sedimentary rocks.
S Sandhills Portions of Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Richmond,Scotland, and Montgomery counties consisting mostly of deepaeolian sands of the Middendorf and Pinehurst formations(Cretaceous to Tertiary age). The Sandhills are really part of thecoastal plain but are here distinguished because of their distinctivegeomorphology and vegetation. Areas somewhat resembling theSandhills region but occurring in other parts of the state (such asCarolina bay rims and aeolian or beach ridge deposits in the outerCoastal Plain) are considered part of the Coastal Plain Province.
C Coastal Plain All parts of North Carolina east of the fall line, excluding theSandhills, generally consisting of unconsolidated sands, silts, clays,and peats, though rarely shallowly underlain by consolidatedcoquina limestone ("marl").
T Tidewater That part of the state associated with tidal water such as the oceanand barrier islands, sounds, estuaries and mainland brackish or saltmarshes.
Habitat. The known habitats are described; as with provinces, these should not be regarded as the onlypossible habitats of the species in the state.
Counties of known occurrence. Following the description of habitats is a listing of the known counties ofoccurrence in the NC Natural Heritage Program database. We request information about any new occurrencesin the state.* All recorded occurrences in the county are either extirpated, have not been found in recent surveys, or
have not been surveyed recently enough to be confident they are still present. Un-surveyed occurrencesare regarded as historical after 20-40 years, the number depending on the species and the amount ofalteration in the area. An asterisk should not be regarded as a definitive statement that the species isgone from the county, but indicates that there is reason to doubt its continued existence.
+ Counties with obscure or undatable records are marked with a plus (+).
? If there is some question as to the validity of the county report, it is marked with a question mark (?).
The botanical exploration of North Carolina is far from complete, and many additional county records willbe found, generally (but not always) in proximity to counties listed. Most species which do not have countyof occurrence information listed are new to the rare list and county status information had not been compiledat the time of publication. Visit the Natural Heritage Program website for the most up-to-date countyoccurrence information: www.ncnhp.org.
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
Adiantum capillus-veneris Venus Hair Fern E - S1 G5 C: coquina limestone (marl)outcrops, also adventitious onmortar of old stone walls inWilmington, New HanoverCounty (Columbus)
Aeschynomene virginica Sensitive Jointvetch E T S1 G2 TC: freshwater to slightly brackishtidal marshes and wet ditches (Beaufort, Craven*, Hyde,Lenoir*)
Baptisia bracteata var. bracteata Creamy Wild Indigo SR-P - SH G4G5T4? P: open woodlands (McDowell*)
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
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Baptisia minor var. aberrans Prairie Blue Wild Indigo T - S2 G5T2 P: glades and open forests onbasic soi ls (Cabarrus*, Caswell*,Durham, Granvil le, Montgomery,Orange+, Person*, Stanly)
Bromus ciliatus Fringed Brome SR-P - S1 G5 M: moist areas near high elevationgrassy balds (Ashe, Mitchell+,Watauga)
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
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Buchnera americana American Bluehearts SR-P - SH G5? MPS: glades, open forests,streambanks, probably primarilyover mafic or calcareous rocks (Cumberland*, Durham*,Harnett*, Orange*, Polk*,Sampson*, Wake*)
Carex lasiocarpa var. americana Slender Sedge SR-P - S1 G5T5 M: shallow water of alkalinespring seep, hummocks in acidicbasin marsh, high elevation fenover amphibolite
Carex schweinitzii Schweinitz's Sedge E FSC SNA G3G4 The alleged occurrences of C.schweinitzii in w. NC are based onmisidentification of C. utriculata.
Carex socialis Social Sedge SR-P - S1 G4 C: streambeds and riverbanks (Columbus, Cumberland, Pender)
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
Eriocaulon lineare Linear Pipewort E - SNA G4 No longer believed native to NC; specimens found to be E. decangulareEriocaulon parkeri Estuary Pipewort SR-T - S1 G3
Eupatorium incarnatum Pink Thoroughwort SR-P - S2 G5 PMC: rich woods and thinwoodlands over diabase,calcareous rocks, other basicrocks, or r ich alluvium (Alexander, Durham*, Madison,Martin*, Polk, Richmond,Warren*, Wilkes)
Houstonia longifolia var. glabra Granite Dome Bluet SR-L - S2 G4G5T2Q M: high elevation granitic domes,rarely other ou tcrops (Clay,Haywood, Henderson, Jackson,Macon, Madison, Transylvania)
Houstonia montana Roan Mountain Bluet E E S2 G2 M: high elevation rocky summits,grassy balds (Ashe, Avery,Mitchell, Watauga, Yancey+)
Hudsonia montana Mountain Golden-heather E T S1 G1 M: gorge rim outcrops , rockysummits, pine-oak/heath ridges (Burke, McDowell)
Hudsonia tomentosa Sand Heather SR-P - S2 G5 T: openings in maritime forest,blowouts, and dunes (Currituck,Dare)
Hydrophyllum macrophyllum Largeleaf Waterleaf SR-P - S2 G5 M: rich woods, especially rockycalcareous forests and cliffs (Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson,Madison, Yancey)
Hymenocallis occidentalis Hillside Spider-li ly SR-P - SH G4? M: wooded hillsides (McDowell*)
Hymenocallis pygmaea Waccamaw River Spiderli ly SR-L - S1 G2G3 C: banks of blackwater rivers (Brunswick, Columbus)
Hymenophyllum tayloriae Gorge Filmy Fern E FSC S1S2 G2 M: moist grottoes and spray cliffsin escarpment gorges with h ighrainfall (Jackson, Macon)
Hypericum adpressum Bog St. John's-wort SR-T FSC SH G3 C: streamside seepage areas,depression ponds and otherisolated wetlands (Halifax*, NewHanover*, Northampton*)
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
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Hypericum brachyphyllum Coastal Plain St. John's-wort SR-P FSC S1S2 G5 C: pine savannas over coquinalimestone (Brunswick+,Onslow+, Pender+)
Hypericum fasciculatum Peelbark St. John's-wort SR-D - S1 G5 C: beaver ponds, low pinelands,pools (Cumberland*, Hoke,Moore, New Hanover*)
Hypericum sp. 1 Radford's St. John's-wort SR-L FSC S2 G2 P: thin soils around rock outcropsin the Brushy Mountains
Hypericum suffruticosum Pineland St. John's-wort SR-P - SH G4G5 C: pine savannas (Bladen*,Sampson*)
Isotria medeoloides Small Whorled Pogonia E T S2 G2 MP: forests, especially with whitepine (Burke, Cherokee, Haywood,Henderson, Jackson, Macon*,McDowell, Rutherford, Sur ry*,Transylvania)
Narthecium americanum Bog Asphodel E C SNA G2 No longer believed to occur in NC; specimen determined to be N. montanumNarthecium montanum Appalachian Bog Asphodel SR-L - SX GX
Schwalbea americana Chaffseed E E S2 G2 SC: savannas and moist to dryishpinelands with frequent fire (Bladen*, Cumberland, Hoke,Moore, Pender*, Scotland)
Silphium terebinthinaceum Prairie Dock SR-P - S2 G4G5 P: diabase glades, other open orsemi-open sites over mafic rock (Cabarrus, Davie, Durham,Granvil le, Mecklenburg, Stanly,Wake*)
Sisyrinchium dichotomum White Irisette E E S2 G2 M: thin woods, especially overamphibolite, in the escarpmentregion (Burke, Henderson, Polk,Rutherford)
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
55
Solidago radula Western Rough Goldenrod SR-P - S1 G5? P: dry woodlands over mafic rocks (Montgomery, Stanly, Wake*)
Solidago simulans Granite Dome Goldenrod SR-L FSC S1 G1 M: high and low elevation graniticdomes south of the AshevilleBasin (Jackson, Macon,Rutherford, Transylvania)
Solidago spithamaea Blue Ridge Goldenrod E T S1 G1 M: high elevation rocky summits (Avery, Mitchell)
Solidago squarrosa Squarrose Goldenrod SR-P - SH G4? M: moist forests at high elevations
Solidago tortifolia Twisted-leaf Goldenrod SR-P - S1 G4G5 CS: dry savannas and and mesicflats (Bladen, Brunswick*, Hoke,Jones*, New Hanover*, Robeson*,Scot land*)
Symphyotrichum parviceps Glade Aster E - SNA G4? No longer believed to occur inNC; populations have been shownto be S. depauperatum, a distinctspecies.
Symphyotrichum rhiannon Buck Creek Aster SR-L FSC S1 G1 M: serpentine pine barrens (Clay)
Symphyotrichum shortii Short's Aster SR-P - SH G5 M: bluffs and rocky banks (Burke*, Transylvania*)
Trifolium carolinianum Carolina Clover SR-O - SH G5 C: savannas, sandy open areas (Duplin*, New Hanover*,Onslow*)
Trifolium reflexum Buffalo Clover SR-T - S1S2 G3G4 PMSC: open woods and clearings
Trillium discolor Mottled Trillium T - S1 G2 M: rich coves in the SavannahRiver drainage (Jackson,Transylvania)
Trillium flexipes Bent White Trillium SR-P - SH G5 M: rich coves (Henderson*,Swain*)
Trillium pusillum var. ozarkanum Alabama Least Trillium E FSC S1 G3T2Q (=Trillium pusillum var. 1) M: rich cove forests (Clay,Haywood*)
Trillium pusillum var. pusillum Carolina Least Trillium E FSC S2 G3T2 CP: ecotones between savannasand nonriverine wet hardwoodforests, over marl (Onslow+,Pender)
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
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Trillium pusillum var. virginianum Virginia Least Trillium E FSC S1 G3T2 C: mesic to swampy hardwoodforests (Camden, Currituck,Gates, Halifax, Johnston*, Nash,Wake)
Fissidens asplenioides A Plume Moss SR-O - SH G3G5 P: sandstone ledges and crevicesin moist ravines and grottoes,along streams and waterfalls (Stokes*)
Fissidens hallianus A Plume Moss SR-O - SH GNRQ C: in water over rocks, and basesof trees, in swamps (Beaufor t*)
Fissidens hallii Hall's Pocket Moss SR-T - S1 G2 C: on bark in cypress-gumswamps (Jones*)
Fissidens scalaris A Plume Moss SR-O - SH G2? P: bare, disturbed soil of streambanks and roadsides (Mecklenburg*)
Fontinalis sphagnifolia A Water Moss SR-O - S1? G3G5 M: on rocks in flowing water (Macon)
Hylocomiastrum umbratum Shaded Feather Moss SR-P - S1? G5 M: on trees and rocks in moistforests, especially under spruce-fir (Buncombe*, Macon, Swain*,Yancey*)
Hypnum pratense Meadow Feather Moss SR-P - S1? G5 terrestrial in damp open sites,swampy and peatland areas (Ashe, Jackson)
Leptodontium excelsum Grandfather Mountain Leptodontium SR-L - S1 G2 M: on bark of Fraser Firs and RedSpruces in spruce-fir forests (Avery, Caldwell, Haywood*,Jackson, Mitchell, Swain,Transylvania*, Watauga)
Philonotis cernua Dwarf Apple Moss SR-D - S1 G4? M: in spray zones of waterfalls,moist rocks in humid gorges (Jackson, Macon*, Rutherford*,Transylvania)
Philonotis uncinata An Apple Moss SR-P - SH G5 M: rocks and soil in open habitats (Transylvania*)
Pilosium chlorophyllum A Moss SR-D - S1? GNR M: moist area on trees (Jackson,Transylvania)
Weissia sharpii A Moss SR-O - S1? G3 P: calcareous rock, cedar-oakbluffs, cedar barrens
Zygodon viridissimus var. apiculatus A Moss SR-L - SH GU M: bark of hardwoods in dry oak-hickory forests (Alleghany*)
LiverwortsAcrobolbus ciliatus A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G3?
M: on moist rocks, in spray zonesof waterfalls in humid gorges or inhigh elevation spruce-fir forests (Buncombe, Haywood*, Jackson,Macon, Yancey*)
Anastrophyllum saxicola A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G3G4 M: high elevation rocky summits (Mitchel l*)
Aneura sharpii A Liverwort SR-T - S1 G1G2 MP: in spray zones of waterfalls (Durham*, Jackson*, Macon*,McDowell, Swain, Watauga)
Barbilophozia barbata A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G4? M: on high elevation rockysummits (Ashe, Wilkes*)
Barbilophozia hatcheri A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G5 M: on high elevation rockysummits (Ashe, Yancey*)
Bazzania nudicaulis A Liverwort SR-T - S2 G2G3 M: on bark of Fraser Fir or onshaded rock in spruce-fir forests (Avery, Buncombe*, Caldwell,Mitchell, Swain, Watauga,Yancey)
Cephalozia connivens var. bifida A Liverwort SR-T - S1 G5T1Q C: moist riverbank (NewHanover*, Pender*)
Cephalozia macrostachya ssp. australis A Liverwort SR-T - S1 G4T1 M: on moist rocks in humidgorges (Burke*, Macon*)
Cephalozia pleniceps var. caroliniana A Liverwort SR-L - S1 G5T1 M: edge of st ream (Transylvania*)
Cephalozia pleniceps var. pleniceps A Liverwort SR-D - SH G5T5 M: moist soil near a spr ing (Yancey*)
Cephaloziella spinicaulis A Liverwort SR-P - S1 G3G4 M: in crevices of high elevationrocky summits (Alleghany*,Ashe*, Haywood, Macon,Madison)
Cheilolejeunea evansii A Liverwort E - S1 G1 M: on bark of hardwoods inhumid gorges (Jackson,Transylvania*)
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
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Cheilolejeunea myriantha A Liverwort SR-P - SH G3G4 MC: on tree bark in sandhills ormountain forests (Sampson*,Transylvania*)
Cheilolejeunea rigidula A Liverwort SR-P - S2 G5 CT: on bark in maritime forests,and in blackwater swamp forests (Brunswick, Columbus*, Hyde*)
Chiloscyphus appalachianus A Liverwort SR-T FSC S1 G1G2Q M: on rock faces in spray zone ofwaterfalls (Burke, Graham,Jackson, Macon*)
Chiloscyphus muricatus A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G5 M: on rocks or bark in humidgorges (Burke, Jackson, Macon*,Transylvania)
Cololejeunea ornata A Liverwort SR-T - SH G2G4 M: on bark of trees, sometimesover other liverworts
Cylindrocolea rhizantha A Liverwort SR-P - SH G3? C: on marl outcrops (Columbus*)
Diplophyllum apiculatum var. taxifolioides A Liverwort SR-L - S1 G5T2Q M: moist soil o r rocks (Ashe*,Burke*, Haywood*, McDowell,Mitchell*)
Diplophyllum obtusatum A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G2? M: on rock outcrops (Buncombe*, Burke*,McDowell*)
Diplophyllum taxifolium var. mucronatum A Liverwort SR-L - S1 G5T1 M: high elevation rocky summits (Haywood*, Jackson*,Transylvania*)
Drepanolejeunea appalachiana A Liverwort SR-L - S1 G2? M: on moist rock, rhododendronbark, and rhododendron leaves inhumid gorges (Burke, Clay*,Jackson, Macon, Transylvania*)
Frullania appalachiana A Liverwort SR-L - S1? G1? M: on bark of hardwoods inspruce-fir forests (Avery*, Burke,Clay*, Haywood*, Jackson*,Macon*, Rutherford)
Frullania donnellii A Liverwort SR-T - SH G3? C: on bark of Ilex in marshes (Carteret*, Craven*)
Lejeunea bermudiana A Liverwort SR-P - SH G3G4 C: on marl outcrops or ondecaying logs in blackwaterswamps, or tree bases in swamps (Brunswick*, Carteret*,Columbus*, Craven*)
Lejeunea blomquistii A Liverwort SR-L - S1 G1G2 M: on dead tree bark or verticalrock faces in spray zone ofwaterfalls (Burke, Jackson,Macon*, McDowell,Transylvania)
Lejeunea cavifolia A Liverwort SR-P - S1 G5 M: on shaded mafic rocks (Ashe*,Polk*, Swain)
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
71
Lejeunea dimorphophylla A Liverwort SR-L - S1 G2G3 TC: on bark in maritime forests (Carteret*)
Lejeunea glaucescens var. acrogyna Raven Rock Liverwort SR-L - SH G5TH C: Endemic to one historicallocation on shaded rock at thepiedmont/coastal plain fall line (Harnett*)
Leptoscyphus cuneifolius A Liverwort SR-D - S2 G4G5 M: on bark of Fraser Firs or onmoist rock, in spruce-fir forests (Haywood*, Jackson*, Mitchel l*,Swain, Yancey)
Lopholejeunea muelleriana A Liverwort SR-D - SH G4G5 C: on bark of gums and cypressesin blackwater swamp forests (Columbus*)
Lophozia excisa A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G5 M: on high elevation rockysummits (Ashe*)
Lophozia heterocolpos A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G5 M: on high elevation rockysummits (Ashe)
Mannia californica A Liverwort SR-T - S1 G3? M: on mineral-rich, dry rockoutcrops (Jackson*, McDowell+,Polk+)
Marsupella emarginata var. latiloba A Liverwort SR-L - S1 G5T1T2 M: on moist rocks in humidgorges, spray zones of waterfalls,or high elevations (Burke*,Haywood*, Jackson*, Macon*,McDowell*, Mitchel l*,Transylvania*)
Marsupella funckii A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G4G5 M: on high elevation,sulphur-bearing rock (Swain*)
Metzgeria temperata A Liverwort SR-D - S1S2 G4 M: Fraser fir forests and hemlockforests (Avery, Caldwell, Clay*,Haywood, Jackson+, Macon+,Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania,Watauga, Yancey)
Metzgeria violacea A Liverwort SR-D - S1S2 GNR M: bark of trees (Haywood,Jackson)
Mylia taylorii A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G5 M: moist rock outcrops at highelevations, spray zone ofwaterfalls (Avery, Caldwell,Jackson, Watauga)
Nardia scalaris ssp. botryoidea A Liverwort SR-O - S1 G5T1 P: exposed rock ledges sometimeswet from seepage
Nardia scalaris ssp. scalaris A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G5T5 M: on high elevation rockysummits and on moist rocks inspruce-fir forests (Buncombe,Haywood*)
Plagiochasma intermedium A Liverwort SR-O - S1 G3G5 M: on moist limestone
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
72
Plagiochasma wrightii A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G3? M: on moist calcareous rocks (McDowell*)
Plagiochila caduciloba A Liverwort SR-T - S2 G2 M: rocks and streambanks inhumid gorges, spray zone ofwaterfalls (Burke, Clay*, Graham,Haywood*, Jackson, Macon,McDowell*, Transylvania,Yancey*)
Plagiochila corniculata A Liverwort SR-D - S2 G4? M: on bark of Fraser Firs inspruce-fir forests, rarely onhardwoods (Avery, Buncombe*,Haywood*, Jackson*, Mitchell,Swain, Transylvania*, Yancey)
Plagiochila dubia A Liverwort SR-P - S1 G4G5 CP: on bark at bases of trees inswamps (Brunswick, Columbus*)
Plagiochila echinata A Liverwort SR-L - S1 G2Q M: rocks and streambanks inhumid gorges, spray zone ofwaterfalls (Graham, Jackson,Macon*, Transylvania)
Plagiochila ludoviciana A Liverwort SR-P - S1 G5 CPM: on bark or moist rock inswamps and mountain gorges (Bladen, Brunswick*, Burke,Cherokee*, Clay*, Durham*,Jackson*, Macon*, McDowell,Orange, Rutherford*, S tokes*,Transylvania, Washington*,Yadkin*)
Plagiochila miradorensis var. miradorensis A Liverwort SR-P - SH G4T4 T: on bark in maritime forests andswamps (Carteret*)
Plagiochila sharpii A Liverwort SR-L FSC S2 G2G4 M: damp rock faces in humidgorges, high elevation rockysummits (Graham, Haywood*,Jackson, Macon, Transylvania,Yancey*)
Plagiochila sullivantii var. spinigera A Liverwort SR-L FSC S1 G2T1 M: on moist rocks in spray zonesof waterfalls (Burke*, Jackson*)
Plagiochila sullivantii var. sullivantii A Liverwort SR-T FSC S2 G2T2 M: on moist rocks, in spray zonesof waterfalls and in spruce-firforests (Avery, Burke, Caldwell*,Cherokee*, Clay*, Graham,Haywood*, Jackson*, Macon*,McDowell, Mitchel l*, Swain*,Transylvania*, Watauga*,Yancey*)
Plagiochila virginica var. caroliniana A Liverwort SR-T FSC S1 G3T2 M: moist rock faces, includingspray zone of waterfalls (Avery*,Jackson*, Macon*, Transylvania*)
Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
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Plagiochila virginica var. virginica A Liverwort SR-L - S1 G3T3 CM: on limestone (Jackson,Mart in*, McDowell, Pitt*,Wilkes*)
Porella wataugensis A Liverwort SR-L FSC S1 G1G2Q M: on rocks in humid gorges (Burke, Graham, Macon,McDowell, Transylvania,Watauga*)
Ptilidium ciliare A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G5 M: on soil in high elevationforests (Mitchell+)
Radula sullivantii A Liverwort SR-L - S2 G3 M: on moist rocks, mostly in sprayzones of waterfalls (Jackson*,Macon, Transylvania*)
Radula voluta A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G3 M: on moist rocks in spray zonesof waterfalls (Macon)
Riccardia jugata A Liverwort SR-L - S1? G2 M: on fallen logs in humid areas,especially gorges (Graham,Haywood, Macon*)
Scapania mucronata A Liverwort SR-D - S1 G5 M: high elevation rocky summits (Ashe*)
Sphenolobopsis pearsonii A Liverwort E FSC S2 G2? M: on bark of Fraser Firs inspruce-fir forests (Avery,Caldwell, Haywood*, Jackson*,Mitchell, Swain, Watauga,Yancey)
Tritomaria exsectiformis ssp. exsectiformis A Liverwort SR-D - SH G5T5 M: on high elevation rockysummits (Ashe*)
HornwortsAspiromitus appalachianus A Hornwort SR-L FSC S1 G1
M: on rocks on streambeds (Transylvania*)
Megaceros aenigmaticus A Hornwort SR-L - S2S3 G2G3 M: on rocks in streams (Cherokee, Clay, Graham,Haywood, Macon, Swain)
Cetrelia cetrarioides Sea Storm Lichen SR-D - S2 G4G5 M: on trees and mossy rocks inforests with an open understory;may prefer old growth or verymature forests (Buncombe*,Haywood*, Jackson*, Mitchell*,Swain*, Yancey*)
Cladonia psoromica Bluff Mountain Reindeer Lichen SR-L FSC S1 G1 M: rock outcrops and fens andglades over amphiboli te rock (Ashe)
Ephebe americana A Rockshag Lichen SR-T - S1 G2G3 M: high elevation rocky summits (Caldwell*, Haywood*, Jackson*)
Ephebe lanata Rockshag Lichen SR-D - S1 G5 MP: on rocks in rapidly flowingwater and grottoes aroundmountain spray cliffs
Ephebe solida A Rockshag Lichen SR-P - S1 G3G4 M: on rocks in rapidly flowingwater and possibly moist grottoesaround mountain spray cliffs
Gymnoderma lineare Rock Gnome Lichen T E S2 G2 M: high elevation rock outcrops,outcrops in humid gorges (Ashe,Avery, Buncombe, Graham,Haywood, Jackson, Macon,Mitchell , Rutherford, Swain*,Transylvania, Yancey)
Heterodermia appalachensis Appalachian Fringe Lichen SR-O - S1S2 G2? MP: hardwood bark or rock faces,possibly associated with oldgrowth forests
Sticta limbata Powdered Moon Lichen SR-D - S1 G3G4 M: on bark and over mosses ontrees and rocks
Teloschistes flavicans Sunrise Lichen SR-P - S1 G4 C: on branches of trees and shrubsor on the ground in open areas,especially near the coast (Brunswick, Carteret , Onslow)
Usnea angulata Old Man's Beard SR-P - S1 G3G5 M: on branches of juniper on highelevation granitic domes (Jackson, Macon, Swain*)
Xanthoparmelia monticola A Rock-shield Lichen SR-L - S2? G2? M: high elevation rocky summits (Buncombe*, Haywood*,Jackson*, Mitchell*,Transylvania*)
NORTH CAROLINA PLANT WATCH LIST
The North Carolina Plant Watch List includes plant species which are rare or otherwise threatened withserious decline, but for which current information does not justify placement on the main list (E, T, C, SR,or SC). Watch List species are additional indicators of significant habitats, and their presence should beconsidered in planning natural area protection efforts, though with less weight than higher priority rarespecies and natural communities. The NC NHP maintains paper files on these species, but does not includethem in its map and computer files. Plants placed on this list fall into a number of categories, discussedbelow. NC NHP requests additional information about these species, in order to clarify their status andreclassify them into other appropriate categories.
Reasons for the current placement of rare species on the Watch List rather than at a higher rarity status(Endangered, Threatened, Candidate, or Significantly Rare) vary . The taxonomic validity of some of thesespecies is currently in doubt. For others, NC N HP lacks adequate documentation of their historic or presentoccurrence in North Carolina. Others are known to be rare in North Carolina, but it appears that they are notnative to the state. For most species, however, their actual rarity is poorly known and we are requesting moredata before such species receive a higher, and more formal, rarity status. A field survey form is provided inthe back of this document. We request that people fill out this survey form and mail it to NC NHP aftervisiting occurrences of these species.
The Watch List has been divided into seven categories as follows. A list of Potential "New-to-NorthCarolina" species is located after the Watch List.
Watch Category 1 (W1 - rare, but relatively secure) includes rare species whose status in North Carolinais relatively well known and which appear to be relatively secure at this time. While still notably rare, thesespecies do not currently require site-specific monitoring and so are not on the main list (E, T, C, SR, or SC).Many of these species were formerly on the main list; they are retained in this category because they requirea lower level of continued monitoring to ensure their long-term security. NC NHP maintains paper files onW1 species and requests occurrence data.
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Watch Category 2 (W2 - rare, but taxonomically questionable) includes species with questionabletaxonomy, including taxa of dubious validity and taxa under study and potentially to be named. If furtherstudy reveals that these are valid taxa, they would warrant addition to the Rare Plant List as Endangered,Threatened, Candidate, or Significantly Rare. This category has been used for named and unnamed taxawhich currently appear to have some significant chance of being proven valid. We request data on taxonomicvalidity, as well as data on localities and populations.
Watch Category 3 (W3 - rare, but uncertain documentation) includes species which have been reportedfrom North Carolina without adequate documentation. These species should be listed at a higher level whentheir reported occurrence in North Carolina is verified. This category includes sight records, old and vaguereports for which no documentation has appeared, and, in a few cases, more recent literature reports forwhich we have not yet received documentation. We request data documenting native occurrence in NorthCarolina, as well as locality and population data.
Watch Category 4 (W4 - rare, but believed not native) includes species known to occur in North Carolinawhich current data suggest are not native to North Carolina, but whose native occurrence is plausible. Someof these species were previously listed at a higher level, but field investigations suggest that all known NorthCarolina occurrences are introductions. We request data documenting the native occurrences of the speciesin North Carolina.
Watch Category 5a and 5b The W5 list follows the main Watch list. See that list for additional discussion.Watch Category 5a (W5a - rare because of severe decline) includes species which have declinedsharply in North Carolina, but which do not appear yet to warrant site-specific monitoring.Watch Category 5b (W5b - exploited plants) These are generally widespread species, at leastwithin their physiographic province, that are in commercial demand and are often collected and soldin high volume.
Watch Category 6 (W6 - regionally rare) includes species which are rare in one region of North Carolina,while being uncommon to abundant within another region. These regional rarities, generally within-statedisjuncts, are significant for protection of genetic variation and long-term viability of species. NC NHP doesnot actively maintain files on W6 species occurrences. The W6 list follows the main Watch list. See that listfor additional discussion.
Watch Category 7 (W 7 - rare and poorly known) includes species with inadequate information abouttheir distribution and rarity in North Carolina. These are generally species which have not been previouslylisted as rare in North Carolina, but which appear to be so, based on herbarium records and field experienceof NC NHP staff, contractees, and cooperating scientists. Further information is needed in order to determinethe true status of these species in North Carolina. We request locality and population data on these species.
References:Fuller, D.O. 1991, Medicine from the Wild: an Overview of the U.S. Native Medicinal Plant Trade and Its
Conservation Implications. Traffic USA, World Wildlife Fund Publications.
NatureServe. 2006. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application].Version 4.7. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available www.natureserve.org/explorer. (March1, 2006).
Robbins, C. 1999. Medicine from U.S. Wildlands: An Assesment of Native Plant Species Harvested in the United States for Medicinal Use and Trade and Evaluation of the Conservationand Management Implications. Traffic USA for the Nature Conservancy.
Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. Global N.C. U.S.
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Watch List - Vascular Plants
Acer nigrum Black Maple S1? G5 W7 M: rich cove forests (Ashe*, Macon,Madison*, Swain*, Watauga*,Yancey*)
Agalinis decemloba Piedmont Gerardia S3 G4Q W1 PMS: dry, open si tes (Buncombe*,Burke*, Durham, Forsyth*, Granville,Harnett, Henderson*, Hoke, Orange,Randolph, Richmond, Rutherford*,Scot land , Swain*, Transylvania*,Wake, Warren, Wilkes*)
Agalinis linifolia Flaxleaf Gerardia S3 G4? W1 C: savannas, clay-based Carolina bays,depression ponds, and other wet, openhabi tats (Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret*,Columbus, Craven, Cumberland*,Hoke, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender,Robeson, Sampson , Scotland*)
Agalinis obtusifolia Ten-lobe False-foxglove S2S3 G4G5Q W1 C: pine savannas, wet pine flatwoods,sandhill seeps, disturbed areas (Bladen,Brunswick, Columbus, Craven,Onslow, Pender)
Carex lucorum var. austrolucorum Appalachian Woodland Sedge S2? G4T3? W7 M: medium to high elevation forests,especially over calcareous or maficrocks (Buncombe*, Clay*, Jackson,Macon*, Swain*, Transylvania*,Watauga*)
Cyperus distans A Flatsedge SH G5 W4 C: marshes (New Hanover*)
Cyperus squarrosus Awned Flatsedge S2 G5 W7 P: granite flatrocks, other rock outcrops (Durham*, Franklin*, Rowan*)
Cypripedium reginae Showy Ladyslipper ? G4 W4 M: the only specimen from NC is froman implausible habitat for the species -highly acid humus under rhododendron(Jackson*, Macon*)
Hydrocotyle americana American Pennywort S2 G5 W7 MP: on cliffs in spray of waterfalls,also in bogs (Ashe*, Burke,Henderson*, Jackson*, Macon, Swain,Transylvania, Watauga*, Yancey*)
Hypericum buckleii Blue Ridge St. John's-wort S3 G3 W1 M: high elevation rocky summits,granitic domes, grassy balds(Haywood, Jackson, Macon,Transylvania)
Hypericum ellipticum Pale St. John's-wort SNR G5 W3 M: habitat in North Carolina notknown
Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. Global N.C. U.S.
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Hypericum graveolens Mountain St. John's-wort S2S3 G3 W1 M: high elevation balds, outcrops,seeps (Buncombe*, Haywood,Jackson*, McDowell*, Mitchel l*,Swain*, Transylvania*, Yancey*)
Andreaea rupestris Rock Split Moss S2? G5 W1 M: rock, typically acidic (Buncombe*,Jackson, Mitchell*)
Anomobryum julaceum Common Silver Moss SH G4 W7 M: high elevations on soil and rocks(Ashe*, Jackson*, Macon*,Rutherford*, Transylvania*)
Archidium donnellii An Earth Moss SNR G3G5 W7 moist to dry soil along roadsides, infields, rarely on rock
Archidium ohioense Tokyo Soil Moss SNR G4G5 W7 moist, open habitats
Archidium tenerrimum An Earth Moss SNR G5? W7 dry to moist soils of open areas andlimestone and sandstone outcrops
Atrichum altecristatum A Catherinea Moss S2? G4G5Q W7 MP: open or semishaded soils, usuallylow elevations (Buncombe*, Jackson,Macon, Orange, Transylvania)
Atrichum cylindricum A Catherinea Moss S2? G5 W7 CP: moist soils of ditches and streambanks in bottomlands and swampforests (Bertie*, Columbus*, Craven,Currituck, Franklin*, Johnston,Moore*, Orange)
Brachelyma subulatum A Moss S2? G4G5 W7 CP: bases of trees or on hard surfacesin swampy areas (Bladen, Columbus,Greene*, Hertford*, Mecklenburg*)
Brachythecium acuminatum var. cyrtophyllum Acuminate Brachythecium S2? G5TNR W7 bark at base of trees, logs
Brachythecium plumosum Rusty Feather Moss S2? G5 W7 CM: moist, acid rocks in or nearstreams (Columbus*, Harnett*,Haywood, Watauga, Yancey*)
Brachythecium reflexum Reflexed Feather Moss S2? G4G5 W7 M: on trees and boulders (Jackson,Watauga)
Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum A Red Foot Moss S2? G5 W7 M: on soil, rock, and bark in forestedboggy areas and stream banks (Clay*,Jackson*, Macon*, Transylvania*)
Cryphaea ravenelii A Thread Cedar Moss S2? G3? W7 PC: on bark of trees (Anson*,Chatham*, Durham*, Halifax*,Harnett*, Hertford*, Person*)
Dicranum fuscescens Fuscous Moss S2? G5 W7 MP: on trees, logs, soil, rock, andhumus in woodlands, spruce-fir forest,occasionally bogs (Avery*, Buncombe,Graham*, Haywood*, Jackson*,Mitchell*, Stokes*, Swain*,Transylvania*, Yancey)
Dicranum spurium Rusty Fork Moss S2? G5 W7 CMP: sandy soil, decayed logs, acidicrock, humus over rock, pine woods,sometimes bogs (Alexander*,Alleghany*, Avery*, Burke*, Carteret*,Franklin*, Jackson*, Macon*, Stokes*,Surry*)
Entosthodon drummondii A Cord Moss SH G4G5 W7 CPS: primarily sandy soils ofdisturbed, often wet areas (Durham*,Harnett*, Moore*, Pender*,Randolph*, Tyrrell*)
Ephemerum spinulosum Emerald Dewdrops S2? G4G5 W7 CP: moist or drying soil in disturbed,partly sunny areas, or on rotting wood (Columbus*, Durham, Mecklenburg*,Orange)
Fabronia ciliaris var. polycarpa A False Crushed-rice Moss S2? G5T4T5 W7 CMPT: bark of trees, less commonlyon rocks (Alexander*, Carteret*, Clay*,Cumberland*, Hyde*, Jackson*,Rowan*, Transylvania*, Washington*)
Fissidens adianthoides Maiden Hair Moss SH G5 W7 MP: wet areas on soil , around bases of trees, on decaying wood or calcareous rocks (Ashe*, Avery*, Brunswick*, Durham*, Forsyth*, Granville*, McDowell*)
Fissidens appalachensis Appalachian Pocket Moss S2S3 G2G3 W7 M: submerged in rapids of moderate to high elevation mountain streams (Buncombe*, Caldwell*, Jackson*, Macon*, McDowell*, Swain*, Watauga*)
Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. Global N.C. U.S.
107
Fissidens elegans A Plume Moss S2? G5 W7 CP: sandy and clayey soils alongroadsides and streams, on trees orstumps (Anson*, Columbus*,Cumberland*, Durham, Harnett,Hyde*, Jackson, Martin*, NewHanover*, Pender*, Sampson*,Stokes*)
Fissidens exilis Small Pocket Moss SNA G3G4 W4 P: stream banks (Cleveland, Durham,Gaston*)
Fissidens fontanus Water Pocket Moss S2? G5 W7 PC: attached to various substrata instagnant and flowing water, and incoastal estuaries (Anson*, Craven*,Durham*, Franklin*, Gates*, Jones*,Macon*, Mecklenburg*, NewHanover*, Orange, Pitt)
Fissidens polypodioides A Moss S2? GNR W7 Calcareous soil, and limestone rocksalong streams and in ravines
Fontinalis flaccida A Water Moss S2? G4G5 W7 CMP: bases of trees in brooks orswamps, submerged (Bladen*,Brunswick*, Columbus*, Harnett,Jackson, Macon, Mi tchell*, Wake*)
Fontinalis sullivantii A Water Moss S2? G3G5 W7 CM: rocks or trees in pools or st reams(Brunswick*, Columbus*, Gates*,Macon, Mitchell*, Nash)
Funaria serrata A Cord Moss SH G4 W7 CP: on soil of disturbed places, nearstreams or ditches (Chatham*,Durham*, Forsyth*, Gaston*,Hertford*, Johnston*, Nash*,Randolph*)
Grimmia olneyi A Beard Moss S2? G3G5 W7 MP: faces of dry to periodically wetrocks, along streams or splash zones oflakes (Alexander*, Alleghany*,Burke*, Forsyth*, Jackson*, Macon*,Montgomery*, Polk*)
Helodium paludosum Pond Fern Moss S2? G3G5 W7 CMP: on soil, humus, trees, or logs inswamps, marshes, or meadows(Anson*, Camden, Caswel l*,Columbus*, Durham*, Gates*,Granville*, Haywood*, Martin*,Mecklenburg*, Orange, Pasquotank*,Stokes*, Watauga*)
Herpetineuron toccoae Coiled Moss S2? G4G5 W7 M: bark of trees or calcareous tonon-calcareous rocks (Graham*,Jackson*, McDowell*, Transylvania)
Hypnum fauriei A Cedar Moss S2? G5 W7 MP: logs and tree bases in deciduousforest (Haywood, Jackson, Johnston*,Macon, Moore*, Orange, Swain*,Transylvania, Watauga, Yancey)
Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. Global N.C. U.S.
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Hypnum plicatulum A Cedar Moss S2? G5 W7 M: epiphytic, terrestrial, and on humusover rock (Haywood*, Jackson,Swain*, Transylvania*, Yancey*)
Leskea australis A Dusky Moss S2? G4 W7 P: lower parts of hardwood trees andbald cypress and logs in woods alongrivers, swamps (Orange)
Micromitrium megalosporum A Moss S2? G4 W7 CMP: unfertilized bare soil, in sun orpart ial shade (Bladen*, Columbus*,Durham*, Mecklenburg*,Transylvania*, Wilson*)
Philonotis longiseta An Apple Moss S2? G3G4 W7 CMP: soil or rock, often on wetembankments (Alleghany*, Forsyth*,Haywood*, Jackson*, Jones*, Lee*,McDowell*, Stokes*, Swain*,Transylvania)
Philonotis marchica An Apple Moss S2? G5 W7 CMP: rocks and soil in wet places,roadsides, springs (Forsyth*, Franklin*,Harnett*, Haywood*, Jackson, Macon,McDowell*, Swain*, Tyrrell, Watauga)
Platydictya subtilis A Moss S2? G3G5 W7 CMP: bark at base of hardwoods, rarelyon logs (Brunswick*, Clay*, Currituck,Durham*, Haywood, Surry, Watauga)
Pohlia longicollis Long Neck Nodding Moss S2? G4G5 W1 M: rocks on cliffs, in crevices, on humus or soil (Jackson, Swain*, Yancey*)
Weissia muehlenbergiana A Moss S2? G5 W7 CP: soil among grasses, roadsides(Brunswick*, Davidson*, Durham*,Madison*, Mecklenburg*, NewHanover*, Orange*, Pender*, Wake)
Zygodon viridissimus var. rupestris A Moss W7 - S2? G5T5 M: trunks of trees and on rocks (Allegnany*, Avery*, Burke*,Caldwell*, Jackson*, Macon*,Mitchell*, Swain*, Watauga*,Yancey*)
Hornworts and LiverwortsAspiromitus adscendens A Hornwort S2? G3? W7
CP: old fields (Bladen*, Columbus*, Durham*, Jones*, Wilson*)
Barbilophozia attenuata A Liverwort S2 G5 W7 M: on rocks in spruce-fir forests(Avery*, Buncombe*, Haywood*,Transylvania*, Yancey*)
Cephaloziella massalongi A Liverwort S1 G3G5 W7 M: high elevation rocky summits (Rutherford, Swain*)
Cephaloziella obtusilobula Roundleaf Liverwort S1? GHQ W2 FSCM: high elevation cliffs or other moistrocks (Burke*, Macon*, Rutherford+)
Cylindrocolea andersonii A Liverwort SH GHQ W2 FSCC: banks of blackwater rivers(Sampson*)
Diplophyllum andrewsii A Liverwort S2 G3 W7 M: on soil or rocks on banks (Avery*,Buncombe*, Burke*, Graham*,Jackson, Macon*, McDowell*, Swain*,Yancey*)
Diplophyllum taxifolium var. taxifolium A Liverwort S2? G5T5 W7 M: crevices and underledges of rockoutcrops, mostly in spruce-fir forests athigh elevations (Ashe*, Buncombe*,Burke*, Caldwell*, Clay*, Haywood*,Jackson*, Macon*, Mi tchell*, Swain*,Transylvania*, Yancey*)
Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. Global N.C. U.S.
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Dumortiera hirsuta ssp. nepalensis A Liverwort S1 G5T5 W1 M: in grottoes behind waterfalls inhumid gorges (Graham*, Jackson*,Macon*, Rutherford)
Frullania oakesiana A Liverwort SH? G4 W7 M: on bark of conifers or deciduoustrees at high elevations (Avery*,Buncombe*, Haywood*, Jackson*,Macon*, McDowell*, Mitchell*,Swain*, Watauga*, Yancey*)
Frullania plana A Liverwort SH? G4 W7 MP: on rock outcrops in gorges or nearrivers (Burke*, Durham*, Graham*,Haywood*, Jackson*, Macon*,McDowell, Polk*, Stokes*)
Lophozia capitata A Liverwort S1 G4 W7 CPM: in moist depressions in savannasor on clay-pans in the piedmont, rockoutcrops (Durham*, Jones*, Onslow*,Orange*, Watauga)
Mannia triandra A Liverwort S1 G3G4 W7 M: on limestone (McDowell*)
Metzgeria furcata var. setigera A Liverwort SH? G5T1 W7 M: damp shaded rocks at highelevations in spruce-fir forests or inhumid gorges (Caldwell*, McDowell,Swain*)
Metzgeria pubescens A Liverwort SH G5 W7 M: on bark of trees (Buncombe*,Swain*)
Metzgeria uncigera A Liverwort S1 G3 W7 CTM: on bark in maritime forests or onrhododendron in mountain forests(Brunswick, Carteret*, Gates*,Graham*, Hyde*, New Hanover*,Pamlico*)
Notothylas orbicularis var. pseudotemperata A Hornwort SH G5T1Q W2 C: damp mineral soil (Columbus*)
Pellia appalachiana A Liverwort SH? G2 W2 MPC: on moist rock outcrops, usually near waterfalls (Harnett*, Macon*, Wake*)
Plagiochila columbiana A Liverwort SH GHQ W2 P: on thin soil over boulders onfloodplains (Durham*, Orange*)
Plagiochila undata A Liverwort S2 G4G5 W7 CMP: on rocks or bark (Anson*,Chatham*, Columbus*, Durham*,Madison*, McDowell*, Orange*,Polk*, Rutherford, Stanly*)
Plagiochila virginica var. euryphylla A Liverwort SH G3THQ W2 M: rockfaces in the sprayzone ofwaterfalls (Transylvania*)
Porella japonica ssp. appalachiana A Liverwort SNR G5?T1 W3 M: on rocks in spray zones ofwaterfalls
Ptilidium pulcherrimum A Liverwort S1 G5 W7 MP: on bark of trees in moist forests(Ashe, Avery*, Gaston , Haywood*,Mitchell*, Watauga*)
Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. Global N.C. U.S.
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Radula tenax A Liverwort S2 G3G4 W7 M: on moist rocks or bark in humidgorges and cove forests (Ashe*,Buncombe*, Burke*, Caldwell*,Jackson*, Macon*, Mi tchell*, Swain*,Transylvania*, Watauga*, Yancey*)
Reboulia hemisphaerica ssp. dioica A Liverwort S1 G5T2?Q W7 M: in spray zone of waterfalls in humidgorges (Macon*, McDowell,Rutherford)
Ricciocarpos natans A Liverwort S1 G5 W1 C: floating in shaded ponds or pools(Dare*)
LichensCladina evansii Green Reindeer Lichen S2 G3G5 W7
C: sandhills (primarily near the coast) usually associated with Quercus geminata (Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven*, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender)
Ochrolechia yasudae Coral Saucer Lichen SH? G3G4 W7 M: on bark or rock (Ashe*,Buncombe*, Macon*)
Platismatia glauca Varied Rag Lichen SH? G5 W7 M: on bark of spruce, fir, or hardwoodsin the spruce-fir zone (Avery*,Haywood*, Jackson*, Swain*,Yancey*)
Porpidia cinereoatra A Crustose Lichen S1 G5? W7 M: high elevation rocky summits(Mitchel l*)
Porpidia macrocarpa A Crustose Lichen S1? G4 W7 M: high elevation rocky summits(Mitchel l*)
Porpidia tuberculosa A Crustose Lichen S1 G2G4 W7 M: high elevation rocky summits(Mitchel l*)
Punctelia reddenda A Foliose Lichen S2 G5 W7 M: on bark of hardwoods at highelevations (generally spruce-fir zone)(Buncombe*, Haywood*, Jackson*,Swain*, Yancey*)
Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. Global N.C. U.S.
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Watch Category 5a and 5b. NC NHP does not actively maintain files on W5 species occurrences.
W5a - rare because of severe decline - species which have declined sharply in North Carolina, but whichdo not appear yet to warrant site-specific monitoring. Most species in this category have undergone declinesof more than 50% (in many cases more than 90%) from their pre-Columbian status. Reasons for declineinclude exotic pests or pathogens, massive modification of the landscape, suppression of natural fires, andfailure of reproduction. Because many of these species were once abundant or even dominant in parts ofNorth Carolina, they may still be fairly common or frequently encountered, despite the strong decline. Ifcurrent trends continue, however, many of these species will be threatened with extirpation in all or a majorpart of their ranges in North Carolina.
Watch Category 5b (Exploited Plants) These are generally widespread species, at least within theirphysiographic province, that are in commercial demand and are often collected and sold in high volume.Such high volume collection can cause local extirpation and is not sustainable in the long run . This categoryhas been created to bring attention to the issue before commercial collection of these species gets to the pointwhere these species become rare. Not included in this category are species that are already listed in othersections of this rare plant list. The NHP requests information on illegal collection incidents, but does nototherwise maintain files on W5b species occurrences.
Scientific Name Common Name Rank Status
Province: Habitat (counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. U.S.Actaea racemosa Common Black-cohosh S4 G4 W5B
MPC: rich cove forests, other mesicand moderately to very fertile forests(Burke, Catawba, Cleveland,McDowell, Rutherford)
Aletris farinosa White-tubed Colicroot S5 G5 W5B CPM: pine savannas, pine flatwoods,seepage bogs, upland woodlands,roadbanks (Burke, McDowell,Rutherford)
Allium tricoccum Red Ramps S4 G5 W5B M: cove forests and mesic slope forests
Aristolochia serpentaria Virginia Snakeroot S4 G4 W5B PMC: dry to mesic forests (Burke,Catawba, Cleveland, McDowell,Rutherford)
Trillium undulatum Painted Trillium S4 G5 W5B M: acidic soils of ridges, slopes, andbog margins, mostly at high elevations
Tsuga caroliniana Carolina Hemlock S3 G3 W5A MP: open forests on ridgetops, rockybluffs, or gorge walls (Alexander,Burke, Catawba, Cleveland,McDowell, Mecklenburg*, Rutherford,Stokes, Surry, Transylvania)
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Watch Category 6 ( regionally rare) includes species which are rare in one region of North Carolina, whilebeing uncommon to abundant within another region. These regional rarities, generally within-state disjuncts,are significant for protection of genetic variation and long-term viability of species.
A list of North Carolina's rare plants is, of course, determined by the arbitrary, political boundaries of thestate. Biological rarity, however, is determined by the natural boundaries of physiography, geology, soils,and climate. These and other physical, biological, and historic factors have determined the evolutionaryhistory and phytogeography of plants currently occupying what is now called "North Carolina." Rarity inone part of the state — especially when disjunct from the region of greater abundance — can have as muchbiological significance as disjunctions from another state. Disjunct populations nearly always have somelevel of genetic differentiation from populations in the main part of a species' range. If this geneticdifferentiation is great enough — and obvious enough — the disjunct population may be recognized as aseparate species, subspecies, or variety. In many cases, however, the genetic differentiation is not greatenough (or is not obvious enough with the relatively crude taxonomic tools which have been applied to mosttaxa) to have warranted the naming of a distinct taxon. Further study will likely show that many disjunctpopulations do warrant taxonomic status. Preservation of biodiversity requires not only preventing theextinction of species, but also maintaining genetic diversity within the species. The long-term viability ofa species is dependent on the genetic diversity represented within and between different populations of thespecies. Disjunct and peripheral populations are especially likely to contain genetic material rare or absentin the bulk of the species' populations. Moreover, within-state disjunctions are likely to serve as indicatorsof regionally unique or unusual habitats. Attention to such species is especially important in county naturalarea inventories and regional planning. The following list of Watch Category 6 plants is not exhaustive, but represents some of the most importantand significant within-state disjunctions. An emphasis has been placed on species which are disjunct ratherthan peripheral — that is, which have a demonstrable gap in their North Carolina ranges. Examples areRhododendron catawbiense, which is rather common at high to medium elevations in the mountains, butoccurs in small, disjunct populations in the lower Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain, and Pogoniaophioglossoides, a primarily Coastal Plain species, occurring in rare bogs in the mountains.
Justicia americana Utricularia biflora [including U. gibba]Kalmia carolina [= K. angustifolia var caroliniana] Utricularia subulataLespedeza angustifolia
Agalinis tenella W7 All records from NC determined to be A. obtusifolia.
Carex elliottii W7 High number of populations, with many on protected lands.
Equisetum x ferrissii W3 Hybrid not suitable for conservation; not known to occur in NC.
Fimbristylis littoralis W7 Not native to NC (introduced from Asia).
Fimbristylis miliacea W7 Not native to NC (introduced from Asia).
Hexastylis lewissii SR-L Moved to the Watch List (category 1) due to high number ofpopulations, with many on protected lands.
Hypericum sp. 2 SR-L Specimens determined to be Hypericum brachyphyllum.
Lachnocaulonbeyrichianum
W1 Relatively secure, with many populations occurring on protectedlands.
Lemna gibba W7 No known current or historical occurrences in NC.
Liatris squarrosa var.hirsuta
W3 No known current or historical occurrences in NC (name alsochanged to L. hirsuta Rydberg).
Minuartia alabamensis W2 Entity is a self-pollinating form of Minuartia uniflora which hasarisen repeatedly and independently at various sites in the rangeof M. uniflora.
Packera glabella W1 Locally common, with many large populations.
Panicum tenerum SR-P Moved to the Watch List (category 1) due to high number ofpopulations, with many on protected lands.
Prenanthes roanensis SR-L Moved to the Watch List (category 1) due to high number ofpopulations, with many on protected lands.
Prunus alabamensis W7 No known current or historical occurrences in NC.
Rhynchospora oligantha SR-P Moved to the Watch List (category 1) due to high number ofpopulations, with many on protected lands.
Sanguisorba canadensis W1 High number of populations, with many on protected lands.
Scutellariapseudoserrata
W7Only specimen from NC is believed to be from cultivation.
Solidago pulchra SR-L Moved to the Watch List (category 1) due to high number ofpopulations, with many on protected lands.
Thalictrum steeleanum W2 Not taxonomically distinct from T. coriaceum.
Verbena stricta W7 Believed not native to NC (introduced from midwest).
Viola conspersa W7 Taxonomically not distinct from Viola labradorica Schrank.
Xyris brevifolia SR-P Moved to the Watch List (category 1) due to high number ofpopulations, with many on protected lands.
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NAME CHANGES SINCE 2004 RARE LIST PUBLICATION
Changed From Changed To
Amphicarpum purshii Amphicarpum amphicarpon
Bartramidula wilsonii Philonotis cernua
Carex albicans var. australis Carex physorhyncha
Carex willdenowii var. megarrhyncha Carex basiantha
Epidendrum conopseum Epidendrum magnoliae
Eupatorium maculatum Eutrochium maculatum var. maculatum
Gnaphalium helleri var micradenium Pseudognaphalium micradenium
Polygonum scandens var. cristatum Fallopia scandens var. 1
Porteranthus stipulatus Gillenia stipulata
Sagittaria graminea var. chapmanii Sagittaria chapmanii
Spergularia marina Spergularia salina
Trillium pusillum var. 1 Trillium pusillum var. ozarkanum
Taxonomy in this publication generally follows Weakley, A.S. Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, andSurrounding States. Working draft of 6 January 2006. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), NCBotanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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NORTH CAROLINA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM ENDANGERED AND RARE PLANTFIELD SURVEY FORM
Species: Common name:Survey date: EO Number (if updating existing EO): County: 7.5' Quad Map:
Coordinates (if known): Elevation:If coordinates given, indicate coordinate system and datum (State Plane 1927 or 1983, UTM, etc):
Site Name (if this is within previously identified site):Site location and directions: (attach copy of map with site marked or use back of form to draw a sketch of the site):
Number of individuals: Define individual (stem, clump, etc.):
Size of area in which population occurs:
Estimate whether the entire population was surveyed, or only a portion:
Estimated Population Viability (circle one): Excellent Good Fair Poor Unknown Failed to find Population Viability Comments:
Phenology (include % or # in each stage): vegetative budflower
Evidence of reproduction: fruit seedlings clonal/vegetative
Reproduction Comments:
Habitat (NC NHP natural community name and description, if known; include quality, soils, geology, etc.):
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program Endangered And Rare Plant Field Survey Form cont.Associated species:
Invasive species noted & degree of threat from invasive species:
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Area of apparently suitable habitat (suitable for, but not necessarily occupied by the species):
If the population is within a Right-of-Way, does suitable habitat exist outside Right-of-Way?
Topographic position (examples: crest, mid slope, alluvial, etc):
Specimens collected (permits are required for federal or state listed species) ? Collection #:
Repository:
Draw sketch below or attach map.
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NORTH CAROLINA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM WATCH LIST PLANT SURVEY FORM
Species: Survey Date:
County: Quad:
Location (Directions to the Site):
Coordinates (if known):
Population Size:
Protected site? How?
Observer Contact Information:
Specimen Collected/Collection #/Repository:
Other Notes (Including Evidence Of Reproduction):
Return this form (along with a map) to: N.C. Natural Heritage Program, 1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1601Visit www.ncnhp.org for updated Status and contact information.